9/11 RESPONDERS’ BENEFITS: Voting 268 for and 160 against, the House on Sept. 29 passed a deficit-neutral bill (HR 847) establishing a fund to benefit thousands of individuals who developed health problems as a result of working at or near the World Trade Center site after 9/11. The bill would provide $3.2 billion in medical benefits and $4.2 billion for death and physical-injury claims through 2020. The cost would be offset by measures such as requiring large corporations to accelerate their estimated tax payments to the Treasury and closing a payroll-tax loophole that benefits U.S. subsidiaries of foreign corporations. The bill awaits Senate action.

TRADE PENALTIES ON CHINA: Voting 348 for and 79 against, the House on Sept. 29 sent the Senate a bill (HR 2378) authorizing U.S. trade officials to impose punitive tariffs and duties on imports from China in response to China’s undervaluing its currency against the dollar. By reducing the cost of Chinese goods in U.S. markets, the currency devaluation has given China a competitive edge against U.S. agricultural producers and manufacturers, costing U.S. jobs and increasing the U.S. trade deficit with China.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.VOTING YES: Baca, Calvert

VOTING NO: Lewis, Bono Mack, Issa

U.S. SPACE BUDGET: Voting 304 for and 118 against, the House on Sept. 29 sent President Barack Obama a bill (S 3729) authorizing $58 billion over three years for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The bill authorizes one additional space-shuttle mission, extending that program until mid-2011, and supports the International Space Station until 2020. But its budget limits are forcing deep reductions in the NASA workforce.

A yes vote was to approve the space budget.

VOTING YES: Baca, Calvert, Lewis, Bono Mack, Issa

STOPGAP 2011 BUDGET: Voting 228 for and 194 against, the House on Sept. 30 sent Obama a $219 billion stopgap spending till (HR 3081) to fund government operations from Oct. 1 — the start of fiscal 2011– until Dec. 3. The lame-duck session of Congress then will attempt to approve regular appropriations for the new fiscal year, with its decisions influenced by the Nov. 2 election results.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

VOTING YES: Baca

VOTING NO: Calvert, Lewis, Bono Mack, Issa

2010 SPY BUDGET: Voting 244 for and 181 against, the House on Sept. 29 sent Obama a classified 2011 U.S. intelligence budget unofficially estimated at $50 billion or higher. The bill (HR 2701) funds operations of the CIA, National Security Agency and more than a dozen other spy agencies.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

VOTING YES: Baca

VOTING NO: Calvert, Lewis, Bono Mack, Issa

PLAIN GOVERNMENT WRITING: Voting 341 for and 82 against, the House on Sept. 29 sent President Obama a bill (HR 946) requiring federal agencies to use plain language in their forms, letters and other documents. The bill lacks a mechanism to ensure compliance. The bill is projected to cost $5 million annually.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

VOTING YES: Baca, Bono Mack

VOTING NO: Calvert, Lewis, Issa

Senate

REPATRIATING U.S. JOBS: Voting 53 for and 45 against, the Senate on Sept. 28 failed to reach 60 votes needed to advance a bill (S 3816) awarding tax breaks to multinational corporations as an incentive for them to bring jobs back to the U.S. The bill would grant a two-year waiver of payroll taxes, such as the employers’ match of employees’ Social Security and Medicare contributions, for every employee filling a job that the company has cancelled overseas.

A yes vote was to advance the bill.

VOTING YES: Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

HEALTH-LAW DISPUTE: Voting 40 for and 59 against, the Senate on Sept. 29 refused to overturn a key coverage requirement in the new health law, one that affects plans already in operation when the law took effect. In order to receive the new law’s preferred “grandfathered” status, plans must provide certain consumer protections and meet other coverage standards. This GOP measure (SJ Res 39) sought to void the rule for determining whether a plan will be grandfathered or, instead, required to make costly upgrades in order to comply with mandates in areas such as preventive care.